Insulator-clamp.



E. G. HATCH.

INSULATOR CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIQ. I916.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN G. HATCH, OF. HOBOKE N, NEW JERSEY.

msninronrcnamr.

Specification of Letters latent. Patented R1 27, 1917.

Application filed May 19, 1916. Serial No. 98,502. v

To all whom it may concern:

but where they are supposed to be of the same size they frequently varyin several dimensions. This results from the methods of manufacture, andit is found in practice that there is usually a variation in the neckdiameters of the insulators, that the top groove in which the line wireis seated will vary and not always be in the center of the insulator,and that the distance between the bottom of the top groove and thecenter of the side groove or neck also varies. Furthermore the size ofthe line wire will obviously be a variable one. The object of myinvention is to produce a very simple strong and inexpensive wire clampwhich will meet and overcome all the above difliculties, and which isconstructed so as to compensate for any of the variations above named,and meet the conditions occasioned by such variations and hold the linewire securely in place. A further and principal object of my inventionis to construct the clamp so that it is instantly adaptable to any orall of the above mentioned varying conditions, and underany ordinarycircumstances can be quickly secured in place so as to fasten the linewire firmly to the insulator.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar reference characters indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a broken side elevation showing a conventional insulator andmy improved clamp applied thereto and to a line wire.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same but with the clamp open atone end.

Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line 3-3 of Fig. showing one of theclamping mem- -ber s 1n inside elevation.

Fig. 4 1s a cross section through a line wire and shows a frontelevation of one set of clamping members.

Fig. 5 is an outside detail side of one of the clamping members. Fig. 6is a view similar to Fig. 5 but shows a slight modification of theinvention, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the structure shown in Fig. 6. i

In the drawings 10 represents a conventional insulator, and so far as myinvention is concerned the insulator may be of any usual or preferredtype. Such insulators are usually made, however, with a neck or sideelevation groove 11, and with a top groove 12 running across the top inwhich the line wire 13 is seated. In my construction 'I use a neck wire14 which is adapted to extend around ber 14 is sufficient to cause it toextend withan approximate fit around the neck of a certain sizeinsulator. At its ends the wire is;

headed as shownat 15 in the hubs 17 of the clamping members or clips 16,and these rise up from the hubs to a point well above the insulatortopso that the wire 13 can be clamped between them. The members or clips16 are vertically slotted as shown at-18 to receive a fasteningbolt 19,and this can be placed either above or below the wire 13, according tocircumstancesfand isfastened by a suitable nut. The inner portions ofthese clips or members 16 aremade like the corresponding parts ofthe-sliding clips or clamping members 20 which are arranged on theopposite side of the insulator to clamp the wire 13 in place.

Each member or clip 20 has a hub por-,

tion 21 which -unlike the corresponding parts in most insulator clampsslides. freely on the wire 14. The inside portions of themembers 20 arerecessed as shown at 22 in Fig. 4, to receive the line wire. 13, and itwill be noticed that the recess is elongated so thatthe wire'can bequickly and securely clamped without reference to .the distance betweenthe center of the neck groove and the top groove 13. .At the outer edgesthe members 20 have meeting flanges 24 which close above the wire 13.The parts are held together by a bolt 25 having a nut 26, and

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the body portionof the bolt is preferably squared as shown so as to bemore secure.

The'inner surfaces of the recessed portions 22 of the members 20 arepreferably 'roughened as shown at 23 in Fig. 3, so that they will firmlygrip the wire 13.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that without regard toany ordinary irregularities of the insulator, the clamp can be quicklyapplied to the line wire 13 so as to bind it to the insulator, auditwill be further seen that the construction is very cheap and simple. Asto its adaptability, it will be noticed that the recess 22 which occursin both members 16 and 20 provides for the variable distance between thebottom of the groove 12 and the center of the neck groove 11. If thegroove 12 is not across the center, it will be seen that the members 20can be slipped laterally along the wire 14 in the neck groove of theinsulator so that that will fit the line wire and hold it as firmly asthough the groove were accurately centeredf It will be. further noticedthat the fastening can be efi'ected without any undue strain on anyparts of the clamp.

Tn Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a slight modification which makes thestructure still more adjustable. In this case clamping members 27 and 28are used, which have hubs 29 sliding on the wire 14, and these memberscan be used on bBth sides of the insulator. Tn this structure the wires14 near the ends overlap and slide through corresponding holes in thehubs 29 of the members 27 and 28, and when the clamp is adjusted at theright point and the members fastened together, the operator can simplyturn up the protruding wire ends with a pair of pliers or the like asshown at 30,.

thus fastening the clamping members in place.

The members 27 and 28 are generally like those already described, but toprovide for a still stronger .top connection the member 27 is recessedat the top as shown at 31, and

the member 28 has a corresponding lug 32 which fits in the said recess.The members are fastened together as already described.

I claim V 1. An insulator clamp 'comprising a neck member adapted to fitthe neck of an insulator, opposed clamping members atthe ends of theneck member adapted to fit a naaoeea 2. An insulator clamp comprising aneck.

member adapted to fit an insulator neck,

means at the ends of the neck member for clamping a line wire extendingacross the top and closing the neck member, and means slidable on theneck member for engaging the line wire. i

3. An insulator clamp comprising a neck member adapted to fit the neckofan insulator, clamping members at the ends of the neck member risingfrom said neck member and adapted to engage and clamp a line wire andalso close the neck member, and'a second set of clamping membersslidable on the neck member and rising therefrom, said second clampingmembers being adapted to engage a line wire,

4:. An insulator clamp comprising a neck member adapted to fit the neckof an insulator, closing and clamping members at the ends of the neckmember, said clamping members having vertically adjustable means forengaging a line wire, and a second set of clamping members carried bythe neck member and also having vertically adjust able means forengaging the said line wire.

5. An insulator clamp comprising a neck member adapted to fit the neckof an insulator, opposed clamping members at the ends of the neck memberhaving recessed inner portions-to fit over a line wire, means forfastening the clamping members together, and a second set of clampingmemg bers .slidable on the neck member and shap to engage the aforesaidline wire.

6. An insulator clamp comprising a neck member adapted to fit the neckof an insu- 'lator, op osed clamping members on the

